Tool driving or impacting – Means to drive tool about an axis – Electric motor
Reexamination Certificate
2001-08-24
2004-05-04
Smith, Scott A. (Department: 3721)
Tool driving or impacting
Means to drive tool about an axis
Electric motor
C310S047000, C310S050000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06729413
ABSTRACT:
FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to power tools and, more particularly, to battery operated power tools which include a mechanism for ejecting the battery from the tool.
In the power tool field, as battery technology improves, tradesmen are turning to battery operated tools. As the tradesmen utilize the battery operated tools, they desire tools with increased power, extended battery life, and longer durability. However, as tradesmen require more power and extended battery life, battery size and weight increase. As this occurs, it is desirable to have additional help to eject the batteries from the power tools.
Various types of battery ejectors exist in the field. Ordinarily, the batteries are surrounded by the housing and the biasing mechanism applies a force on the battery or battery pack near the electrical contact area. This is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,146,682 to Nakao; U.S. Pat. No. 5,681,667 to Bunyea et al; U.S. Pat. 5,225,293 to Mitchell et al; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,637,417 to Engmark et al.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,223,835 to Habedank et al, which is assigned to the assignee of the present invention, discloses a mechanism for assisting an ejecting battery from a power tool. The mechanism includes a cap which is biased by a spring or springs which are positioned within the housing. The cap acts upon the battery to apply a removal force onto the battery. Here, the top of the battery and the end of the battery are surrounded by the power tool housing.
The cited art does not provide a solution for ejecting a battery which is freely suspended by its coupling mechanism. In this case, the battery is supported on only one side and the remaining battery extends from the housing of the power tool. The majority of battery ejectors for these types of batteries are like those illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 5,213,913. Here, the latching mechanisms, when moved, allow gravity to drop the battery from the housing. Thus, there was no need for a biasing force to remove the battery pack from the tool housing.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides the art with a battery ejection mechanism which is utilized on batteries which are suspended from the power tool. The suspended battery includes rails which enable the battery to slide onto the power tool. The biasing member is positioned adjacent to the battery rails for ejecting the battery. Also, the biasing member is positioned in alignment such that the biasing member contacts the face of the rail mechanism of the battery to eject the battery. The battery is partly ejected from the tool housing so that it can be removed from the housing.
In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, a mechanism for ejecting a battery comprises a frame with a cavity in the frame to receive a battery pack. A receiving member extends from the frame and is adjacent the cavity. The receiving member meshes with a member on the battery pack to maintain the battery pack in the cavity. A biasing member is positioned in the cavity adjacent the receiving member. The biasing member ejects the battery pack from the ejecting mechanism. A member to retain the biasing member in the cavity is secured to the frame. The member guides the meshing portion of the battery pack with the receiving member into contact with the biasing member such that when the battery pack is locked onto the frame, the biasing member is in a compressed condition and when the battery pack is in an unlocked positioned the biasing member ejects the battery pack from the frame. The cavity is defined by a pair of opposing side walls and an end wall adjoining the opposing side walls and an end wall adjoining the opposing side walls. The receiving member includes a pair of rails extending from each side wall. The rails oppose one another. Channels are formed adjacent the side walls and between the rails and frame to receive mating rails on the battery pack. The biasing retaining member is adjacent the channel. The biasing retaining member is a tab extending from the side wall of the frame. The biasing member includes a pair of helical springs. The helical springs extend from the end wall and are aligned coincident with the channel.
In accordance with a second aspect of the invention, a power tool comprises a housing with a motor in the housing. An output is coupled with the motor. An activation member is included to activate the motor. A mechanism on the housing receives a battery pack. The mechanism includes a frame, with a receiving member and an adjacent cavity. The receiving member meshes with a member on the battery pack to hold the battery pack in the cavity. A biasing member is positioned in the cavity adjacent the receiving member. The biasing member ejects the battery pack from the ejecting mechanism. A member to retain the biasing member in the cavity is secured to the frame. The member guides the meshing portion of the battery pack with the receiving member into contact with the biasing member such that when the battery pack is locked onto the frame, the biasing member is in a compressed condition and when the battery pack is in an unlocked positioned the biasing member ejects the battery pack from the frame. The cavity is defined by a pair of opposing side walls and an end wall adjoining the opposing side walls. The receiving member includes a pair of rails extending from each side wall. The rails oppose one another. Channels are formed adjacent the side walls and between the rails and frame to receive mating rails on the battery pack. The biasing retaining member is adjacent the channel. The biasing retaining member is a tab extending from the side wall of the frame. The biasing member includes a pair of helical springs. The helical springs extend from the end wall and are aligned coincident with the channel. A battery pack is received in the battery pack receiving mechanism. The battery pack includes a pair of rails mating in the channels. The battery pack rails include an upper portion and a lower portion and a channel between the upper and lower portions. The extending tabs extend into the channel of the battery pack rails. The battery pack rails include end faces that abut the helical springs. The battery rails slide in the channels and the frame rails freely suspend the battery pack from the tool housing. The helical springs are positioned in the tool electrical connector housing.
From the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the drawings and subjoined claims, other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art.
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Campbell David C.
Turner Terry L.
Black & Decker Inc.
Harness & Dickey & Pierce P.L.C.
Nathaniel Chukwurah
Smith Scott A.
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